80s Makeup: A Step-by-Step Tutorial
How to get the bold 1980s look: bright eyeshadow, blush swept high, strong brows and a bright lip. Then see the eighties look on your own face.
The 1980s were bold and bright, and the rule was more is more. Think of Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and the neon of MTV: bright blocked eyeshadow, blush swept high across the cheeks, strong brows and a vivid lip. It is a fun, high-energy look that reads instantly as eighties.
It comes together in five steps, and it is all about color. Here is how to do 80s makeup step by step, and you can preview the whole look on your own face before you start.
What you'll need
No specific brands needed. Any version of each works.
1. Lay down an even base
Eighties makeup started with a full, even base, so this is a step to build up more than usual. Apply a medium-to-full coverage foundation all over and use concealer to cover any redness or shadows, since the bright colors that come next look best against a completely even canvas.
Set everything with a generous dusting of powder to lock it in and take away shine, because the eighties finish was matte and long-wearing rather than dewy. A smooth, matte base gives the neon shadow and bold lip something clean to sit on so nothing looks patchy.
Tip: Powder well, especially on your lids, before the bright eyeshadow. Colored shadow grabs onto bare skin unevenly and is much harder to blend.
2. Block bright eyeshadow up to the brow
This is the heart of the eighties look, so commit to it: pick a bright shade like electric blue, hot pink, or purple, and sweep it from your lash line all the way up to your brow bone. Use a flat brush to pack the color on so it stays vivid and even, covering the whole lid rather than keeping it subtle.
For extra drama, press a second, deeper bright shade into your crease and blend the two where they meet so the color has some dimension. You can carry the shadow along your lower lash line too, which frames the eye and makes the look even bolder and more true to the decade.
Tip: An eye base or a swipe of concealer set with powder under the shadow makes bright colors far more intense and stops them creasing within the hour.
3. Keep the brows full and strong
The eighties brow was full and strong, the exact opposite of the thin nineties brow that came later, so the aim here is thick and healthy. Brush your brows up and out with a spoolie, then fill any gaps with a pencil or powder, following your natural shape rather than carving a new one.
Keep the brow looking dense but still like hair, and set it in place with a clear or tinted brow gel so it holds that full, brushed-up shape. Strong brows are important because they balance out the bright eyeshadow and bold lip, keeping the whole face from looking top or bottom heavy.
Tip: Fill your brows with short, hair-like strokes rather than one solid block of color, so they stay bold without looking drawn on.
4. Sweep blush high on the cheeks
Eighties blush sat high and dramatic, so smile, then load a bright pink or plum blush onto the top of your cheekbones and sweep it up toward your temples in a clear diagonal line. This angled, lifted placement is very different from the soft, low blush of other decades and is a big part of what dates the look to the eighties.
Do not be too shy here, because the blush was meant to be seen, but do blend the edges so there is no hard stripe. If you want it even more authentic, choose a shade that clearly stands out against your skin rather than a your-cheeks-but-better tone.
Tip: Build the blush in layers and keep a clean brush handy. A quick buff over the top softens the edges without removing the bright color.
5. Finish with a bright, bold lip
Finish with a bold, saturated lip in fuchsia, hot pink, or a bright red, choosing whichever best matches the eyeshadow you used. Start by lining your lips right on your natural edge to give the color a crisp border and to stop it from bleeding out.
Fill everything in with lipstick, then blot and reapply so the color is dense and long-lasting rather than sheer. A strong, matte lip is what pulls the whole high-energy look together, so this is not the place to go soft.
Tip: Match your lip to the intensity of your eyes, not the exact color. A bright eye plus a bright lip in the same family looks eighties, while clashing neons can look like a costume.
See the look on your own face
Upload a selfie and preview this look on yourself with AI before you recreate it.
Drag to see the full makeover
Frequently asked questions
What did 80s makeup look like?+
80s makeup was bold and colorful: bright blocked eyeshadow applied from the lash line up to the brow, blush swept high and angled toward the temples, full strong brows, and a bright lip in fuchsia, pink or red. The whole look was built to be seen.
What eyeshadow colors were popular in the 80s?+
Bright, saturated shades: blue, pink, purple and turquoise were everywhere, often applied all the way up to the brow bone. Neon and frosted finishes were popular too.
How do you do 80s blush?+
Place a bright pink or plum blush high on the cheekbones and sweep it up toward the temples in a clear diagonal. The 80s blush was bold and visible rather than soft and blended-away.
How can I try the 80s look on my own face?+
Tap any try this look on your face button on this page to upload a selfie and preview the full 80s look on yourself before you recreate it.
